Combination atomizer and mixer



March 12, 1940. w c, COLEMAN 2,193,270

COMBINATION ATOMIZER AND MIXER Filed April 25, 1958 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 12, 1940 Y William C. Coleman,

Wichita, Kans., assgnor to The Coleman Lamp and Stove` Company,

Wichita,

Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application April 25, 193s, serial No. 204,211 claims. (01. 15s-s1) This invention relates to apparatus for burning liquid hydrocarbon distillates, for example gasoline, and particularly to a combination atomizer and mixer for preparing a fuel of this character for consumption in a gas burning appliance, such as a cooking stove, heater, or the like.

In burning fuels of this character it has been the practice to provide the burners witha generating device initially heated by a small portion of the raw fuel so that the fuel in passing to the burner is vaporized in the generator. It is, therefore, necessary tov wait until the generator parts become hot enough to form the liquid fuel y into a gas before the burner can be lighted. Such a system results in delay inlighting the burner, inconvenience of operation, fumes from the burning of improperly conditioned fuel, and hazards brought about by diificultiesin operation.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the i present invention to provide a gas burning appliance with an instantaneous starter whereby the burner may be lighted immediately upon turning on of the liquid fuel.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a safe and efcient starting device wherein the fuel is initially atomized to `prepare a readily combustible mixture capable of imme diate use in a burner; to provide automatic con-A trol of the fuel incidental to turning on the supply of atomizing medium so` as to provide the required mixture for immediate consumption in the burner; and to provide a simple and trouble proof starter construction operable by a single control lever.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferredr form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a combination atomizer and mixer for instantly preparing a liquid fuel for immediate consumption in a gasburning appliance.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section` through the device on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, particularly illustrating the air and fuel throttling valve in position for closing the air inlet port.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectionthrough the device on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary detail section through the air control and fuel throttle valve in open position, showing the valve in position for opening the air inlet and throttling the liquid fuel inlet.

` Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the valve A n and its actuating lever.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a combination fuel atomizer and mixing device constructed in accordance with the present invention, and which includes a bracket 2 having a slotted body portion 3 provided with upwardly diverging arms 4 and 5 by which the bracket is attached to the frame of a stove or other appliance withwhich the device is to be associated. The lower end of the body carries` a cylindrical barrel 6, havingan axial ybore 'I for providing an atomizing chamber 8. The ends of the bore are internally threaded, as at 9 and I0, to `accommodate externally threaded nipplesl Il and I2 for closing the ends of the bore.

The nipples II and I2 have intermediate, polygonal-shaped collar portions I3 and I 4 to facilitate application of a wrench or the like wherewith the nipples are turned into the ends of the bore. The outer ends of the nipples are also threaded, as at I5 and I6, to accommodate unions II and I8 by which air and fuel pipes I 9 and 2D' are respectively connected with the nipples.

The nipple II has concentric, cylindrical bores 2| and 22 extending inwardly from the respective ends thereof and connected by an orice 23, of such diameter as to pass the desired volume of air at a given pressure. The outer end of the bore 2I is provided with a conical counterbore 24 to engage the conical face 25 of a collar 26 attached to the end of the pipe I9, the collar having a shoulder portion 2'I engaged by the union Il to retain the conical face of the collar in leak-proof engagement with the nipple. The bore 22 is provided with a cylindrical counterbore 28 to form an annular valve seat 29, and the inner end. of the bore terminates in a taper 30 to connect with a taper leading to the orice 23.

The nipple I2 also has axial bores 3| and 32 extending inwardly from the ends thereof and downwardly toward the orifice 33, in substantially the same manner as the corresponding bore of the other nipple previously described. The bore 3I isof smaller diameter and has its outer end provided with a tapered counterbore 34 engaging a correspondingly tapered head 35 on the fuel pipe 20, the head being retained, by the union I8 to provide a leak-tight joint.

Reciprocably mounted within the atomizing chamber is a valve member 36 having a beveled valve face 31 for engaging the seat 29 to normally shut 01T inlet of air into the atomizing chamber. The terminal end of the valve member has a reduced shank 38 extending into the reduced portion of the bore 22 to carry a cleaning needle 39 extending into the orifice 23, previously described, so that when the valve is closed the needle projects through the orice to clear it of any accumulated matter that may be blown through the air pipe. `The opposite end of the valve member terminates in a similar reduced` shank 40 carrying a needle-like throttling valve 4l that is of suiiicient diameter to loosely throttle the fuel inlet oriiice 33, the effective port area of which is such as to admit the required amount of liquid fuel into the mixing chamber for atomization by the air admitted through the opposite orice 23, so that a correct mixture is effected to be Areadily combustible when ignited at the burner. The intermediate portion of the valve member has a collar 42 that is loosely slidable within the atomizing chamber, and which is engaged by a coil spring 43 thatis sleeved over the throttling en d thereof and has its opposite end bearing against the spring seat of the bore 3l to normally retain the valve in position for closing the air inlet port, as shown in Fig. 2.

vlxtending laterally from the cylindrical portionof the bracket, at th-e centerline thereof, is a cylindrical neck 44, having an inner cylindrical bore 45 extending through to the .atomizing chamber and provided with an annular shoulder 46 to` rotatablyl seat a retaining collar 41 on an actuating lever 48. 'Ihe lever 48 includes a shaft portion 49 extending outwardly from the lateral neck on the bracket and terminates in a downwardly extending lever arm 50 by which the retaining collar is rotated within the bore. Sleeved on the shaft portion 49, and bearing against the collar 41, is a washer-like bearing 5l which cooperateswith a similar bearing 52 to retain a packing `element 53 therebetween for preventing leakage about the shaft portion of the lever. The packing is retained in compressed condition lby means of'a packing nut 54 .sleeved on the lever .and having threaded engagement with the laterally extending neck, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Projecting from the inner face of the collar 41, in eccentric relation with the axis thereof, isv a pin 55 adapted to engage against the face of 'the collar 42 of the valve 36, the pin 55 being arranged so that when the valve is closed the lever arm is turned downwardly, as shown in Fig. l. In this position the spring retains the airr'valve in closed position with the throttling needle 4I out of position relatively to the orifice 33. Liquid fuel from the pipe 20 is then free to ow in full volume into the atomizing chamber, however, when thel valve is 'turn-ed* to the right, Fig. l, the pin engages the collar on the valve to shift the valve and effect unseating thereof relatively to the air port and to effect withdrawal of the cleaning valve from the orifice 23. With this movement of the valve the spring 43 is compressed and the throttling needle is project-ed into throttling relation with the liquid `fuel orifice 33 to reduce the amount of liquid discharged into the atomizing chamber.` In this position of the valve, friction of the packing on the shaft portion of the control lever is suilcient to overcome action of the spring andthe valve is retained in open position.

The liquid fuel or the atomized mixture thereof is discharged from the atomizing chamber through a lateral port 53 into a valve 51 of a fuel injecting and mixing nozzleV 58. The valve 51 includes a substantially rectangular shaped body portion 59 located within the slotted recessl of the body portion of the bracket, as best shown in Figs. :1 and 2. The body portion of the valve body has a depending boss 6D, provided with a beveled face 6l to wedge within a counterbore 52 provided at the outlet end of the port 55, the beveled face of the boss being urged tightly in the oounterbore by a set screw 63 that is threaded through an opening 64 in the bracket and has a cone-shaped end G seating on the surface 65 of the valve body. The set screw S3 is provided with a polygonal-shaped head 61 by which it is rotated.

Extending in opposite directions from the body portion of the valve are cylindrical extensions 68 and 69, the extension B8 having an internally threaded recess 18 to mount a nipple 1i which in turn is provided with a threaded socket 12. Threaded in the socket 12 is a tube 13 forming the` body portion ofthe nozzle and which carries a nozzle tip 14 that is threaded on the outer end thereof to retain an oriiice member 15. The orice member 15 has a skirt portion 18 sleeved within the terminal end of the tube and an enlarged collar portion 11 between the end of the tube and an internal annular shoulder 18 on the tipy so that the orifice member is retained in coaxial relation vvith the nozzle. The oriiice member is provided with an orifice 19 that is formed in the outer end thereof and which is connected with a cylindrical bore having a tapered end leadingto the loriiice to guide a cleaning needle' 80 therethrough, the needle 88 being carried on a stern 8| extending axially through the tube of the nozzle and which has its other end threaded into a socket 82 of a valve stem 83. The valve stem 83 is rotatably mounted within bore 84 of the other cylindrical extension of the valve body and has a threaded portion 85 within an internally threaded portion 85 of the bore. The inner end of the valve stem termina-tes in a beveled seat 81 to engage a valve seat 88 that is formed by aligning bores 89 and 88 coaxial with the valve body. The bore 98 aligns with a vertical channel 9| that connects with the port 58, previously described, so that the fuel admitted to the atomizing chamber is passed' into the tubular portion of the nozzle when the valve stem is rotated to move the valve face thereonaway from the seat 81.

To prevent leakage about the valve stem 83, the outer end of the bore 84 is counterbored to accommodate a packing element S2 which is retained by a packing nut 93, as in conventional practice. The outer end of the stem carries a hand wheel 94 by which' the valve is rotated. In order to limit outward movement of the valve the inner end of the stem is provided with an annular groove 95, carrying a split ring 96 that engages against the inner end of the packing element when the valve is unseated.

In order to thoroughly mix the atomized fuel and to retard movement of the fuel through the nozzle after the burner has been put into operation, the nozzle tube contains a helical baie 91 loosely sleeved over the stem 8l, as shown in Fig. 3.

' When the device assembled as described is mounted in a stove or the like, the nozzle extends in relation to a burner thereof so that the heat of the burner sufficiently heats the tube to vaporize liquid fuel passed therethrough. The nozzle tip is located within a manifold (not shown), that is connected with the burner or burners and through which air is drawn for mixture with the atomized or vaporized fuel, as the case may be.

In operating the atomizing and mixing device when associated with a gas burning appliance, for

\ example a cooking stove, the air and fuel pipes are respectively connected with suitable sources of compressed air and a supply of liquid fuel, such as gasoline, the air pipe being `preferably connected with the fuel container so that the air pressure required to move the fuel is used in the atomizing chamber. When the burner is to be started the lever 48 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. l, so that the eccentric pin comes into camming engagement with the collar 42 to effect shifting of the valve member against its spring 43 to effect unseating of the valve and withdrawal of the cleaning needle from the orice 23. Simultaneously the throttling needle is caused to enter the orifice 33' to reduce the volume of liquid fuel flow through the orifice. The hand Wheel 94 is then rotated in the direction opposite to that of the arrow indicated thereon to unseat the valve stem so that the air and liquid fuel may fiow into and through the tube-like nozzle.

As soon as the air flows into the atomizing cham-` ber the liquid therein is atomized and forced through the port 56 into the channel 9i, past the valve seat 88 into the tube of the nozzle where it is caused to be thoroughly mixed on its tortuous passage between the coils of the baliie for discharge from the orifice in finely atomized form to the burner manifold (not shown). The atomized fuel may be readily ignited when a flame is applied to the burner so that the burner will operate satisfactorily immediately upon opening of the fuel control valve. Heat from the burner heats the tube so that the fuel contacting the hot surfaces thereof begins to vaporize into` gas form. When this occurs the ame will tend to blow away from the burner, warning the operator that it is time to close off the air supply to the atomizing chamber. This is effected by swinging the control lever in the opposite direction so that the spring is effective in seating the air shut-off valve. When the valve is seated the cleaning needle passes through the orifice to prevent clogging thereof. The throttling needle on the opposite end of lthe valve also moves out of the orifice 33 to permit the proper Volume of fluid to enter the Valve, which passes directly through the atomizing chamber, through the port 33, channel B, valve seat 88 and into contact with the hot surface of the tube 13, where it is thoroughly gasied and discharged through the orifice of the nozzle into the manifold, continuing operation of the burner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a valve body provided with an atomizing chamber having liquid fuel and air inlets, a valve member in the valve body having a valve face for closing the air inlet, a needle-like throttle on the valve member adapted to enter said fuel inlet upon opening of the air inlet, a spring normally retaining the valve member in air inlet closing position, a collar on the valve member, an actuating lever, and an eccentric pin carried by the actuating lever and engaging the collar to effect shifting of the valve member for inlet of air and a throttled flow of liquid fuel into the atomizing chamber.

2. In a device of the character described, a valve body provided with an atomizing chamber having liquid fuel and air inlets, a Valve member in the valve body having a valve face normally closing the air inlet, a needle-like throttle on the valve member adapted to enter the fuel inlet upon opening of the air inlet, a spring normally retaining the valve member in air inlet closing position,

a collar on the valve member, an actuating lever,

an eccentric pin carried by the actuating lever and engaging the collar to effect shifting of the valve member for inlet of air and a throttled flow of liquid fuel into the atomizing chamber, and a packing gland for sealing the atomizing chamber about the actuating lever and for frictionally retaining the valve member' in open position.

3. In a device of the character described, an atomizing chamber having an inlet for admitting a liquid fuel and an inlet for an atomizing medium, a valve normally closing the inlet for the atomizing medium, means for partially throttling flow of fuel through the fuelinlet, and a common actuating connection between said valve and the throttling means for simultaneously moving said valve and throttling means to admit the atomizing medium and throttled fuel ow into the atomizing chamber.

4. In a device of the character described, an atomizing chamber having a constantly open liquid fuel inlet and an air inlet, a valve member normally closing the air inlet, throttling means on the valve member adapted to partially throttle said open fuel inlet upon opening of the air inlet, and means for actuating the valve member to simultaneously admit into the atomizing chamber a throttled fuel flow and air for forming a combustible mixture.

5; In a device of the character described, an atomizing chamber havingaxially arranged liquid fuel and air inlets, a valve member in the atomizing chamber having a valve face for closing the air inlet, a needle-like throttle on the valve member adapted to enter the fuel inlet upon opening the air inlet, means normally retaining the Valve member in air inlet closing position and the needle-like throttle in retracted relation With respect to said fuel inlet, and actuating means connected with the valve member for shifting the valve member in the atomizing chamber.

WILLIAM C. COLEMAN. 

